The Fable of the Gardener

Once upon a time, there was a Michelin-starred chef who dreamed of having a vegetable garden.

In this patch of land, he would be in command, planting and watching over the growth and flavour of his crops at every moment. Behind his restaurant lay an idle plot of land. He could tell that the soil was fertile and the climate ideal from the fruits flourishing in his neighbour’s garden. Eager to harvest, our chef sowed salads, carrots, and tomatoes, watering them generously and diligently. Every day, in between preparing a bechamel sauce and a leg of lamb, he ran out to his garden, watering can in hand. So much work! He had never realized how much labour went into gardening. He waited in vain. Nothing came. Here and there a green shoot sported a sorry leaf. The kind neighbour suggested hoeing, irrigating, removing stones, and protecting from the sun… Our poor chef was too overwhelmed. He began to get frustrated. “Where are my carrots?” he thundered, exhausted. Disheartened, he began to insult them. In a fit of anger, kneeling in the dirt, he even pulled on the shoo to make them grow better. And then he gave up. Bad seeds, weeds — was this the reward for his labour? He threw down his tools. Was he responsible for the failure of his plants?

YES. Absolutely.

 Good soil alone is not enough; only a green thumb can create a favourable environment. Even good seeds need care.

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

– Ronald Reagan –

Your boutique is a garden, your seeds are your teams. But, you might ask, what importance does this have? The chef may have wasted his time, but he neither lost his star nor his clients; that is what truly matters. Their satisfaction is his priority. Client-centricity always returns to the heart of the matter. But beware of misunderstanding. According to Shep Hyken, a world-renowned expert in customer experience, to place your customer at the centre of your shop, start by putting your teams at the heart of your thoughts.

Simon Sinek also digs in:

“Love your employees, customers will follow!”
What if we put teams back at the centre of our interests?

Without seeds, there are no sprouts, and without sprouts, there are neither restaurants nor customers. A seed needs time and love to germinate. Be patient, take your time. You can’t grow carrots by pulling on them.

What lessons can we draw from our star chef?

To extend the metaphor, the soil is your environment. Water is training and support. Fertiliser is trust. First, work your soil. Create a favourable work environment. The hospitality industry is rich in case studies. At Accor’s headquarters in Germany, the offices are smaller than the living spaces. The kitchen is vast and on the ground floor. Here, one wants to linger, to have lunch together, to enjoy a coffee. Here, we live the Novotel experience. And because we understand it, we defend it much better. The soil is the essential condition for the well-being of the seeds.

Next, water your sprouts diligently. Train, motivate, encourage, and value your employees without pressuring them. Protect your teams from the wind and sun, from pressure from above as well as from the claws of customers. Imagine the day of a salesperson in the after-sales service of a luxury watchmaker. Their role is essential. Everything depends on them: converting a disgruntled client into a loyal enthusiast. Can they accomplish this feat if they are under tension? To fight on the front lines, one must be empowered by a charismatic leader who backs you with trust and respect. Nourish with fertiliser and give responsibilities to your employees. At the Four Seasons, they say: “Do whatever you feel is right to satisfy your customer.” Let your seeds germinate, even if it is outside the furrow you have traced. Expand their ground. “A leader”, asserted Lao Tzu, “is good when people barely know he exists.” Hyken goes even further and recalls the mantra of Ritz-Carlton: “We are men and women serving men and women.” The customer is not king; otherwise, the seller would be his servant. At the Ritz, it is proclaimed loud and clear: we treat employees like customers. Selling is a discussion between equals and can only become so if the manager allows everyone the opportunity to flourish.

– Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”, 2009, Nora Ephron –

And finally, let them take root and become trees! Draw a path. Project them into the future: career plans, growth, mobility. Live for tomorrow. The athlete who runs on a treadmill exhausts himself but doesn’t move forward. We always walk better when we know where we are going.

Let us conclude with these words from Richard Branson:

“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.”

And you, how do you cultivate your garden?

Aurélie Leborgne
April, 2025

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